Find out how popular the last name Kirking is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Kirking.

Kirking, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Kirking surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kirking in America

Kirking is the 130610th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kirking surname appeared 130 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kirking.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kirking to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Kirking

The surname Kirking is believed to have originated in Scotland, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Old English words "cirice" and "ing," which together mean "church dweller" or "people of the church." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have lived near a church or were associated with a religious institution.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kirking can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of written acts of homage to Edward I of England from Scottish nobles and landowners. This document lists several individuals with variations of the name, such as Kirkyn and Kirkin, indicating that the spelling was not standardized at the time.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named John Kirking was mentioned in the records of the Scottish parliament. He served as a representative for the burgh of Stirling and played a role in the political affairs of the time.

The Kirking surname is also associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Kirkinch in Fife and Kirkintilloch in East Dunbartonshire. These locations may have been home to early bearers of the name or influenced its development.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Kirking was William Kirking, born in 1620 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He was a prominent merchant and landowner who contributed to the local community.

Another notable figure was Sir James Kirking, born in 1678 in Edinburgh. He was a renowned lawyer and judge who served on the Court of Session, the highest civil court in Scotland.

In the 19th century, Robert Kirking (1810-1892) was a Scottish engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of steam engines and other industrial machinery.

Mary Kirking (1870-1945), born in Glasgow, was a pioneering educator who advocated for women's rights and established several schools for girls in Scotland.

The surname Kirking also has connections to the literary world. John Kirking (1888-1962), a Scottish author and poet, gained recognition for his works celebrating the natural beauty and cultural heritage of his homeland.

While the Kirking surname may not be as common today, it carries a rich history and connections to various aspects of Scottish life, from religion and politics to industry and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kirking

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Kirking.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kirking was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kirking has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Kirking was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kirking, please contact us.

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